The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-06
MAGAZINE NOTICES.

The American Magazine for December contains
as leading article Christ-Ideals in American Art
by William II. Ingersoll, which gives occasion for
the frontispiece, The Boy Christ Disputing with
the Doctors, engraved from picture by Frank
Mass; and a sculptured Head of Christ, by Launt
Thompson is reproduced In line engraving on the
cover. Charles Gayarre tells, with wealth Of
anecdote, how various means Of amusement were
provided for rich and poor fifty years ago, in
quarter of New Orleans that seems then to have
been deyoted-at least in the holiday season-to
the Genius of Pleasure. Christmas in the Grand
members of a society founded among our soldiers
during the war. Its meetings took place on sue
before the close Of he conflict. Diaries Of war
incidents were kept by members and read at the
meetings; often indicating by changed ownership
story, Olivia is continued. There is an llustra-
ted article on salmon fishing and another on the
discoverer of natural gas.
Capt Charles King contributes to the December
number of Lippincott's Magazine another of his
very popular military stories, From the Ranks.
Albion w. Tourgee with Professor Cadmus's
Great Case begins series Of stories of mystery,
complication and detective Ingenuity, under the
general heading of With Gauge & Swallow, each
OF which Will be complete in itself, though all re-
volye around common center of interest. Lucy
G. Lilies Jenny Lind Goldschmidt is more than
mere biographical sketch, as it includes personal
dice against Americans, owing to the fact that I'M
friendly statements had been circu ated about her
husband in the American press lclosedher doors 10
all bnt few people Of that nationality. Other ar
ticles are My First Appearance by James Edmon-
son, a humorous sketch entitled The Drum Major,
BY +. 2 Baylor, and Earthworms and Society, by
Mary Parmele.
Christmas Wide Awake is made up of thirty
five poems stories, sketches. papers of all sorts,
long and short, and pictures ffty.seven. Both
writers and artists are such as stand for timely
help along the highway of life with good cheer in
the bargain If such an amount of such work of
such work OF pen and pencil was made into
Christmas books, they would cost as many dollars
as cents In Wide Awake.
The December Century opens with fronts.
piece portrait Of Lincoln from photograph made
about the time of his Inauguration, which event is
the subject Of the present part of the Lincoln His
tory. Prof. Chas. w. Shields of Princeton Col
lege contributes an important and interesting
United States" being review of the Century
letters on Christian Unity, which were written as
comments on his former article of the same title.
Mr. kenyan's second paper deals with the
"Prson Life of the Russian Rev0lutionistsn and
answers the question, What Is the specific nature
of the wrongs which call forth, especially among
the youth of Russia, such manifestations of fierce,
passionate hatred for the Tsar and which inspire
his life? Mr. Brander Matthews contributes an
interesting study of journalism entitled sNotes on
Partisan Newspapers" in which are character
the Temps" the "Rappel," the "Justice.r
~ Intranslgeant," the .Lanterne,"' the "Repub-
ivari" and number OF Others Among the por-
traits are those Of Albert Wolf, RochefOrt, Glenn
enceau, Claretie, and arcey. The fiction Of the
sons,n a novel Of western life by Edward Eggles-
ton; the second fourth of George W. Cables
novelette, Of the Teche country, Eau Large (, and
toms sequel to Mrs. Lecks and Mrs. Aleshine.'
There is also short story by ]. G. Perkins, enti-
tied "After the War;"
The December number of Harper's Magazine
exces even the brilliant prestige of its previous
Christmas numbers as holiday feast Of enter
tanning reading and sumptuous illustrations.
Every article and story is complete III ITSELF and
there is profusion of illustrated short stories.
The Christmas idea predominates Throughout in
charming one. Old Garden Flowers by f. w. Bur
bidge of the Dublin Botanical Gardens. Edwin
A. Abbey's share in the banquet is generous
one, being series of ten large Illustrations for
the exquisite poem by w. M. Praed portraying
The Vicar of two generations ago.. Pauline
B. AIdrich, the scene of which is laid in a Russian
masquerade ball. Renhart illustrates the critical
points of the plot by two full-page drawings The
most signal feature of the number is a c0lored
plate of American gems, illustrating an important
article on Precious Stones in the United States"
by George II. Kunz. This plate is one of the
choicest products of photographic art ever accom-
plished. presenting fac-simile in color and size
Of the most INDUSTRIOUS gems found in this country
q sIouP " " iiha.,s ooois ,tquifius tncles ScP1
rate printings. There is also number OF black
and-white drawings.
The Christmas number OF Scribner's Is an I'M
usually interesting number especially as to its
stories, which are by Bret Harte, III. Bunner,
Sarah Orne Jewett and T. r. Sullivan. An Illus
trated poem, Ticonderoga, by Robert Louis Stew
enson opens the number. the frontispiece being
one Of its Illustrations The other contributors of
poetry are Louise Imogine Quincy, Austin Dob
fon. s. Decatur Smith, Jr., Graham s. Tomson.
Edith M. Thomas, ard Elizabeth Akers. The
latter contributes an illustrated poem the Water
Witch, which will especially interest Maine peo-
pie. as it tells in spirited verse how "From the
dingy wharyes OF old Boothboy" the water witch
sailed away with never soul on board" K. H.
aud Il. w. Bashfied furnish an admirable article
"In Florence with R0mola." III. G. Burners
story, The Zadoc Pine Labor Union" is an inter-
esting satire ON some OF the f0llies and tyranny
into which extremists among organized laborers
have gone. The magazine IS replete with excel
lent illustrations.